Dental instrument



P. J. VAN DER WOUDE 2593524 I Zhwentor PAUL/P I VA/mm Ma DENTALQ INSTRUMENT (Ittor egg -.-Ma.y 27, 1952 Filed Oct. 25, 1947 P. J. VAN DER WOUDE 2,598,624

May 27, 1952 DENTAL INSTRUMENT 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Oct. 23, 1947 3m entor Pym/, J VAN DER n ouog g Mm,

Patented May 27, v.1952

nn ssht .inxsntiszlf relate o dental 3.1

tyne 4 5, 5 b dehii fo ;f

paratus of teetli- In the u a ip em sm the earth ti nmpe tt 9 Iii fi n ials it i 1 highly de rab e t at the oper ons o s r ing and tamping the paste follow one another w th the le s poss ble e avn h ua u q the ppe atq 'lays d h s tula 9r e r fill n ins ument n pi u h t ming fi l l fil afte th h he lat e i laid ,gown and 1 .15 1 g ins rum nt Picked u P rat q being alter ated 1. 1 11 h t :h been filled. fNot o n-l y -is there loss of valuable time by so proceeding but the constant la yin g dovqn of thei-nstruments makes for the likelihood of picking up dirt or bacteria. Furthere more, once out of the operators hand the instrument may roll or be pushed aside and further Idelay had in again grasping it.

Itfis therefore a' principal object of my invention to provide a" combined instrument having at one end a step hy step acting filler and at the other end a'plfigger (also termed a tamper or hammer) which bv a simple twist of the wrist may be used to carry out either the =function of filling or tamping. A fu rthe r object is to so combine the two instruments that the barrel or casing proper of the hammer may be gripped as humb 91 2 an i e t a e th ller arid t e -e16) th ea of one rum t affords a more adequate grip for the other.

A still further ohject is to improve each inglividual :instrnmgnt. For example, it is an object 'to "provide a' filler having a i step 'by step action which when exhausted of filling material may be instantly r e set. It is also an object to provide a plugger which is of improved construction, of positive operation and capable of delivering a blow in either direction along or parallel to the axis of the instrument.

Further objects of my -invention and the advantages the-reof will he apparent as the description proceeds, and the features of novelty will be pointed out the appended claims.

My invention will be best understood by reference "to the following detailed description taken with th aeee s dress n s i h h Fig. 1 is a view of the entire instrument con: stitutlng an il'lustrative embodiment of my in:

ventioril i s-on egillargeilvlew along section k t- 2 is an enlarged view along section 3-3 ;E1 gs -;5 and 6 are respectively views taken along sections t4 of 'Fig. 1 :and sections :'5-.-.-5 :and 9 i f ywfiew in-' iso1netric perspective of .an elerrlentof unctionjing to release the pawls seen 0 iig. -2.

is a similar View of one pair of :spring pawls also -seen in 2.

Fli g Q is aview along (the-same section as Fig. 3 hut showing the hammer in a different position -=with respect to the plunger.

?1 Q, lil, :12 and -13 are respectively zviews taken along sections Hi-4:30, 2| l-=-1l I, a 1-:l2 and 13- I3 of Fig. 53.

= 'I'h'e device consists of a casing .or housing I {tor theplugger which-31s .seen at the right hand p ont'ionkof l, and la easing or housing-*2 for the filler, leompnising the left hand (portion of thecasings i l and *2 :being joined zbyimea-ns of ;a flanged m1; orlcoupling 14 having :a {threaded kengagement with :the endzof eating .2 and having an ir iternalfianged send-r5 engaging over an external flange 26 =01 .rthe casing 3|. "The coupling 4 3159 zpemnils the flange :5 120 :move to the zleft .as seen in Fig. 22 .asmll be hereinafter pointed .out.

The details of --the :fil ler iwi'll mow be described:

Attached i :the leasing :2 as Eby welding or other is a. centrally iperforated cap :1 which .at its reduced portion holds the duct 8, who router zext emity .of which holds the supmy of paste #9.. v-It also contains plunger -14 .attachegl etc a flexible erod fll which latter passes thmugh the .eentra-l more of the cap '1 and extends to La eentering :ring :12. .A :llompression spring 13 extends from ring 13 {to the inner fiat suriaeeof the :cap

Integral the flexible A! and the ring 1-2 its lcemmll y disposed ratchet rod 15 having the .eircumferential :ratohet teeth as shown. "The :ratc'het mod :4 4 3'5 held in :rejlatively fixed position :by means .of holding epawls .15 which are integral with a ring 325 (see #39 which is :fitted into the easing 2 so as to he immovable therein 'for which purpose the is provided with an ear 4'] of a spring material which may be caused .to engage a lcorresponding groove with-in casing 2, as showntclearly in Figs. 2 and 8. In order to' sweil he pl n er and r tchet r 9 44 to the 61 som owl 51 & r vi ed whic are smash d held within ring I6 and exerting its action on the annular base I9a of said ring I9. Except that it is movable in the casing the ring and pawl assembly I8 and I9 is substantially similar to that of ring I6 and pawls I5, I5. It will be noted for reasons which will be later apparent that the pawls I8, I8 are turned approximately 90 to pawls I5, I5. In order to move the ring I9 and hence theplunger Ill, an'element 2| is provided which is held in threaded engagement with the casing I (screw threads 22), such'element having depending bifurcations 23 which engage the periphery of the .ring I9 (see Fig. 6) while keeping free of rod I4. It will further be seen that by moving the casing I toward cap. I as by means of a thumb hook 24 attached thereto such movement is transmitted through the element 2| to the ring I9 and the driving pawls I8 so as to movethe ratchet rod I4 the length of one stroke which normally is just equal to the distance between the ratchet teeth on rod I4. This stroke is determined by the spacing between the flange and the right hand end of the casing 2, this'space being adjustable by turning the casing I with respect to the element 2|.

Having exuded the supply of filling material by repeated strokes of the plunger II), it is necessary to retract the same and to accomplish this, means are provided for releasing both the holding pawls I5 and the driving pawls I8, such means taking the form of a tube 25, F g. '7, having a pair of opposed longitudinal slots therein 26, 26, the arcuate edges 26a of which engage respectively beneath the driving pawls I8, I8. Tube also has a pair of opposed slots 21, 21 longitudinally and radially spaced from slots 26. Edges 21a, 2111, of slots 21, 21 similarly engage beneath the holding pawls I5, I5. Tube' 25 is moved by means of a transverse pin 28 L secured to a ring 29, pin 28 engaging tube 25 by extending through holes 30 therein, the pin and ring being secured together by means of a set screw 3|. To permit movement ofthe ring 29 longitudinally of the casing 2 the latter is slotted as shown at 32. To release the plunger is it is then merely necessary to grasp the casing 2 with one hand and slide the ring 29 to the left as seen in Fig. 2 thereby releasing the pawls I5 and I8 by allowing spring I3 to retract the plunger I0. This action may be simultaneous with feeding the paste 9 as by pressing the end of the duct or nozzle 8 into a small mass of same. Due to the fact that the tube 25 abuts plunger ring I2 in its extreme position to the right in Fig. 2, the retraction of the plunger ring I2 insures that the tube 25 will be moved fully to the right, thereby allowing pawls I8 and I5 to engage the rod I4.

' The plugger as seen best in Figs. 1 and 3 consists of a terminal rod 35, preferably having an approximate 90 bend at its end and equipped preferably with a ball tip 36 or other device for contact with the filling or other object to be hammered or tamped. Rod is made integral with a plunger 31 having a portion 31a of reduced diameter to form a shoulder accommodating a spring retaining washer 38. The plunger also has a portion 31b of somewhat larger diameter than 31a whereby to form a shoulder accommodating a spring retaining washer 39. The two washers 39 and 38 serve to hold a spring 41] which encircles the portion 31a. of the plunger. Enclosing the spring is a cap 4| which is bored to accommodate the movement therethrough of 4 v rod 35. In effect it forms an extension of the casing I. Said cap is secured thereto by means of a ring 42 which is in screw threaded relation to the casing I and the cap 4i. Ring 42 has an inwardly extending annular flange 43 which serves to hold a washer 44 holding a spring to be later described. 7

The plunger further has a reduced portion 310 providing a shoulder 46, the purpose of which will be hereinafter apparent, the plunger terminating at the left in a head 4'! providing a shoulder 41. Plunger 31 has slidable thereon an annular sleeve 48 of suflicient mass to constitute a hammer for striking the blow to be delivered to the plunger. Normally, however, the sleeve 48 is locked to the plunger 31 by means of a latch '49 which surrounds a further reduced portion 31d, the bore of the latch 49 being considerably larger than the reduced portion 37d, and large enough to permit passage of opposed plunger sections 31c and 3Ie as is seen best in Fig. 11. Latch 49 has the lower portion 49a which in the position shown in Fig. 3 serves to lock the sleeve 48 to the plunger 3'1, the latch49 being held in the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of a leaf spring50 which has an annular portion secured in the head of the sleeve 48 as seen in Fig. 3, it being further noted that the spring 55 is contained in a slot 45a in the sleeve 48. Adapted to cooperate with the cam surface 4% of latch 43 is a tripping lug 5I secured to the casing I at the left end of the sleeve 48 as shown in Fig. 3 and a lug 52 at the right end of said sleeve, such lugs having chamfered portions shown which engage the cam surface 491 as seen in Figs. 3 and 9. For convenience of assembly that portion of the plunger 31 to the left of the cam 49 is preferably separable by means of the screw threaded connection 53 as seen in Fig. 3. Lug 52 also serves to hold washer 52a for the left end of spring 45. Lugs El and 52 also have cut out portions 53b and 522) respectively to accommodate spring 5 a At the left end of sleeve 43 is a flanged ring or washer 54 which serves to hold a spring 55 which at its other end engages a head 56 of a screw bolt (screw 5'!) in the head of element 2I. Thus by adjusting the position of the head 55 as by means of a screw driver inserted in the slot55 the tension of spring 55 and hence the magnitude of the blow may be adjusted.

In use the striking tip 36 is placed against the filling or other object to be struck a forward blow, the operator exerts a rightward pressure or push, as seen in Fig. 3, which causes the casing I to move to the right with respect to the plunger 31 thereby compressing spring 55 (as well as spring 40) and carrying the tripping lug 5I against the cam surface 492) of the latch 59, as seen in Fig. 9. Continued movement of the tripping lug causes the latch 49 to release the sleeve hammer 48 enabling it to be shot by action of spring 55 against the shoulder 46 of the plunger, the force of the blow being transmitted by the tip 36. The blow having been delivered by the hammer 48, the casing is retracted by means of spring 40, spring 45 causing the hammer to move back to the position of Fig. 3 where it looks the plunger 31 by engagement with latch 45.

Similarly when it is desired to strike a blow in the reverse direction the casing I is moved to the left compressing spring 45 (and spring 45) and moving tripping lug 52 against the cam surface 49b to release the sleeve hammer 49 and cause it to strike against the shoulder 47 of the plunger. The force of this blow may be varied by screwing ring 42 on casing I thus modifying the tension of spring 45. When the blow has been struck, the parts are returned to their inactive positions by means of spring 49 and spring 55.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the combined instrument as described lends itself to the operations of filling a cavity and tamping the filling without the operator having to let the instrument out of his hand. It will be understood that various changes may be made in the embodiments as shown without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A dental filler comprising a casing terminating in a member having a restricted bore, a plunger mounted for reciprocation in said casing, a ratchet shaft connected to said plunger, a feeding pawl engaging said ratchet for advancing same, a holding pawl for maintaining said ratchet shaft in fixed position when said feeding pawl is released, a spring acting to retract said plunger, a releasing element for said pawls and an actuating device external of said casing for said releasing element, and permitting said plunger to be retracted by said spring.

2. A dental filler in accordance with claim 1 6 having means whereby the retraction of the plunger is caused to retract the releasing element.

3. A filler according to claim 1 in which the releasing element is in the form of a slotted sleeve, the arcuate-edges of which slotsengage beneath said pawls to release same.

4. In a dental filler according to claim 1 in which the holding pawl is fixed with respect to said casing and has a housing integral therewith, a spring in said housing and pressing against a housing for said feed pawl whereby said spring retracts said feed pawl upon a forward strok thereof having been made.

PHILIP J. VAN DER WOUDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

